Individual-towel cabinet.



H. A. AMMANN.

INDIVIDUAL TOWEL CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29| I918.

152,753, I Patented May 6,1919.

BY 6M gw ATToRNEy lit ' decreased.

- TED STATES PATENT onnicn HENRY A. AMMANN, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO DIAMOND INDIVIDUAL TOWEL SYSTEM 00., 0F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

INDIVIDUAL-TOWEL CABINET.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, HENRY A. AMMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in .the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Individual-Towel Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in individual towel dispensing cabinets.

The invention has to do more particularly with an individual towel dispensing cabinet wherein the clean towels are disposed in stack form, on edge, upon a shelf. The towels are engaged ,on one side of the stack, by an-actuated follower, and on the other side of the stack the towels are engaged by the back of the cabinet in order to maintain the towels on edge in stack form. That portion of cabinets of this character in which the clean towels are disposed, is limited in space to accommodate the maximum number of clean towels for which the cabinet is designed. Therefore when the cabinet is charged with clean towels, there is very little additional room. Thus in many prior devices, this type of follower board has been actuated by weights, cords attached to the follower extending downwardly through the shelf and on which the weights are pendently hung.

It has been found in practice, especially in v short length cabinets adapted to be disposed above wash stands,that the height or length of the cabinet can be very greatly reduced by substituting a spring, for actuating the follower, instead of weights. Furthermore, when weights are utilized, they mustextend down into the soiled towel compartment and therefore it is necessary to house the weights to avoid interference with the soiled towels.

Now therefore one of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient means for actuating the follower so as always to maintain the latter in snug contact against the towels as the stack is gradually In order to eliminate two springs, and also obtain an efficient equalizing action, a. single spring device has been devised, which is the object of this invention, one end of the spring being operatively connected with one end of the follower and the remaining end of the spring being operatively connected with the remaining end of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1919.

Application filed April 29, 1918. Serial No. 231,380.

the followerf The spring is freely movable and the lines or flexible cords, or other.op-' erative means whereby the spring is connected with the follower, are likewise slidably connected with the spring. Therefore, should the cords be of unequal length or if one cord should stretch more than the other,

this floating spring compensates for such irthe follower, thereby tending to keep the follower in fiat abutting relation against the towel stack.

It is a further feature of this invention to mount the spring outside of the compartment containing the clean stack of towels whereby a relatively large sized and highly resilient spring may be utilized, the same having ample room for lengthening or shortening under its ,own resiliency as the follower takes different positions as a result of spring pull, or otherwise.

The'invention has other objects and features which will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing, and which will be more particularly pointed out in and by the appended claims. 1

in the drawing:

Figure 1, is a view in front elevation 01 a form of cabinet of relatively contracted length, and suitable for office use, a portion of the same being broken away to better illustrate internal parts.

F Fig. 2, is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 3, is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the diHerent figures of the drawing.

As illustrated, the cabinet comprises a back 1, which extends the full length there- 1 of, and side walls 2 which likewise extend the full length of the cabinet. A bottom I wall 3, together with a front wall 4, form with the sides and back a soiled towel receptacle 5. A shelf 6 extends forwardly from the,back 1 and is designed to support a stack of towels 7, in an upright, and on edge position. One side of the stack of towels is maintained vertical by the back 1, and the other side of the stack of towels is maintained vertical by a follower 8. Thus the clean towels are dispose in a compartment, comprising the side walls 2, the back 1, and the follower 8, the towels fairly snugly fitting said compartment. The cabinet, is proportioned so that a slight cleared space 9 will be provided between the end of the towel stack and theside walls 2. The depth of the shelf 6 is proportioned in accordance with the capacity for which the cabinet is designed, either 50 or 100.towels being the usual initial charge, the cabinet being designed accordingly. 7

Strictly speaking, the rear side of the towel stack does not directly engage the back '1, there being provided. projecting edges 10 and 11 for engagement with the towels for the purpose of holding the towels in broadly spaced relation with respect to the back 1. The projecting edges 10 and 11 are straight edges, and the same 'may be formed by bending the margins of a strip 12, ,into the position shown. The strip 12 is rigidly secured to the back, and therefore it may form 'a part of the back structure, pat- ,entably speaking. Now it will be clear that when a cabinet is charged with clean towels, substantially side of the clean towel compartment, which will now be designated as a whole by referen ce numeral 13.

Next referring to the improved follower actuating means, the same is specifically vvshown in'the form of a spring 1 1 which is shown disposed in subjacent relation to the shelf 6. Spring 14 is of the coiled contractile type and its diameter will preferably be such that its length need not be excessive in order to afford the necessary degree of resiliency. Furthermore, because of the length of the spring due to its somewhat enlarged diameter, the wire forming the convolution may be relatively small in cross section, hence this character of spring even when extended to its limit, will not exert an excessive pressure on the follower, it being the intention to lightly engage the follower against the towels to avoid generating too much friction when the towels are pulled out one by one. The spring 14 is disposed beneath shelf 6 and the latter is provided with suitable opening 15 through which cords or flexbile lines may extend to connect the spring with the follower, as will be presently described. It is desirable to inclose the spring and therefore I provide an inclosing shelf 16, extending beneath the spring, and a covering front 17 extending upwardly into abutting relation with the bottom of the shelf 6. The covering front 17 fits snugly between the walls 2 and therefore by reason of its additional engagement with the shelf 6, only one screw 18 is required to secure the front 17 inposition. The front 17 is preferably extended downwardly a slight distance, and a shelf 19 may be secured to the bottom thereof. This shelf 19 affords a convenient support for a comb, brush and like toilet articles. There will be no occasion for the user to gain access to the spring and therefore when the cabinet is assembled, the covering front will remain in position continuously, unless it was necessary to repair the spring or renew connection with one of the lines.

The spring at each end is provided with a bent terminal 20 on which a block 21, each with a pulley 22, is mounted. A cord or flexible line 23 has its #bight trained through or about pulley 22, and this cord or line is trained about pulleys 2st and 25, mounted upon side walls 2. The cord 23 extends upwardly through the opening 15, and onecord end 26, is trained through pulley 27, mounted upon the back 1, and extends therefrom forwardly toward the follower 8 to which it is secured at 28. The remaining end 29 of said cord is trained about pulley 30, on the back 1, and extends forwardly toward the follower to which it is secured at 31. By providing superposed connections of the cord with the follower, and at each end thereof, it is possible to urge the follower into a towel engaging position with the entire area of the follower in flat abutting relation against the back. If the stack is slightly out of true, the follower will seek to take a similar position, it being understood that the towels themselves do not move, as the stack is being exhausted, the follower itself being the only movable part. Thus by reason of these connections at each end of the follower, at points closely adjacent to the retaining edges 10 and 11, it will be seen that the follower will function to hold the towel stack in substantially uniform engagement with these retaining edges. It will be seen that these retaining edges project forwardy a sufficient distance so that when the follower is holding the last towel against said edges, the edges will prevent 30 and thereby free the last one or two' towels by not permitting the follower to engage the retaining edges.

Now it will be seen and understood that the flexible line connection with the righthand portion of the follower, is identical with that shown in full lines at the left hand side of Fig. 1, the spring being free to move endwise in the spring chamber without any restraint whatsoever. Thus if the towels were stacked in such a manner that one side was thicker than the other, the spring would pull uniformly on both ends of the follower because the sprin 14: is free to bodily move longitudinally in the spring chamber. Furthermore, if the cords or flexible lines 23- should not be cut at exactly the same length, or in case one cord stretched with respect to the other, the spring would likewise equalize and compensate for any such irregularity by taking a position dependent upon the correction of such irregularity and causing the follower to function in an absolutely normal manner. If the cords were fastened to the ends of the spring, then each cord can shift so that each line, throughout its length, will always be taut. Furthermore, in the case of an irregular stack of towels, the lines themselves would equalize because of their pulley connection with the spring, and therefore if the towels resist movement of the follower in a manner to cause the follower to tilt from a normal vertical position, the lines will shift in their pulley connections so that they will always be taut irre spective of such abnormal position of the follower. Therefore, it will be seen that the lines equalize as well as the spring.

In putting the towels into the towel compartment 13, the spring permits of the great est flexibility of movement of the ollower, either. end for end, or bodily, when the follower is pulled out by hand in order to insert the towels into position.

The proportionsare such that the end pulleys 22, of the spring 14, would engage the pulleys 24: and 25 thereby limiting outward movement of the follower to such a point as would strain the spring,

The towels are strung upon a flexible stringer 32, which may be removably secured to the'back 1, at 33, in any desirable manner,

I :at one end thereof,'and which is fastened at 34 to the bottom of the soiled towel receptacle in a suitable removable manner. linasmuch as this flexible stringer has been thereof is necessary.

'hereinbefore claimed and described in prior patents, no further detailed descrlption The great advantage of the construction herewith shown, is that lit is absolutely noiseless in its operation. Repairs and renewals can readily be made. Because of the disposition of the spring with its axis parallel with the shelf, a relatively great length of coil can be utilized, and therefore the coil can be proportionately designed so as to exert a pull on the follower with the least possible variation of power thereby nearly approximating uniform tension of the follower against the towels.-

It is believed that the advantages and utility of this invention will be clearly. understood from the foregoing description, and while I have herein shown and described one'speci fic form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim 1. In an individual towel cabinet, a compartment for the clean towels including a follower, anda floating spring having its ends operatively connected with said follower to actuate the same.

2. In an individual towel cabinet, a shelf for supporting a stack of towels on edge, a back and a follower engaging opposite sides of the stack to maintain the towels in stack form, a contractile coil spring below said shelf freely movable to lengthen or shorten or move bodily, flexible lines connected with one end of said spring and extending up through said'shelf and connected with one end of said follower, and flexible lines connected with the remaining end of said spring and extending up through said shelf and connected with the remaining end of said follower whereby said springwill actuate said follower against the stack as the latter is being exhausted.

3. In an individual towel cabinet, a shelf for supporting a stack of towels on edge, a back and. a follower engaging opposite sides of the stack to maintain-the towels in stack form, a freely movable contractile coil spring below said shelf having a pulley on each end thereof, a flexible line having its bight trained through one of saidpulleys and its two ends secured to one end of said follower, a flexible line having its bight trained through the remaining pulley and having its ends secured to the remaining end of said follower, and sets of pulleys guiding said flexible lines to exert the thrust of the spring on said follower t move the latter against the stack as the latter is being exhausted. Y

t. In an individual towel cabinet, a shelf "for supporting a stack of towels on edge, a back and a follower engaging opposite sides of the stack to maintain the towels in stack form, a single freely movable spring below said shelf, and flexible lines-movably connected with said spring and secured to said follower for moving the latter against said stack as the latter is being exhausted.

5. In an individual towel cabinet, a compartment for the clean towels including a follower for holding the towels on edge, freely movable compensating spring means outside of said compartment for actuating saidfollower, and devices having compensati-ng connection with said spring means for equalizing the application of thrust thereof on said follower irrespective of the posture assumed by said stack.

6. In an individual towel cabinet, a compartment for supporting a stack of towels on edge including a shelf and a follower, a spring disposed below and in parallel relation with said shelf, and means attached to the ends of said spring for transmitting thrust thereof to said follower.

7. In anindividual towel cabinet, a compartment for the clean towels including a shelf and a follower, a follower actuating spring below and in parallel relation with said shelf, an inclosing shelf below said spring, an inclosing front secured against the front edge of said inclosing shelf and being in edge abutting relation against the ing front having its back abutting against said inclosing shelf and its upper edge abutting against said towel supporting shelf for inclosing said spring, and a toilet article shelf mounted on said front.

9. In an individual towel cabinet, a compartment for the clean towels including a follower, a spring for actuating said follower, and a flexible line having its bight slidably connected with said spring and having its ends connected with said follower.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I hereby afiix my signature.

HENRY A. AMMANN. 

